Minister for Tourism, Gilgit-Baltistan, Fida Khan while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said that GB being gateway of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an open market for the investors. There is a great investment scope in building resorts, food streets, hotels, chairlifts, paragliding, polo clubs and dry fruit industry in GB, he added.
The minister said that he wants to introduce the Polo playing style of Punjab in GB. He asked the Lahore Chamber to extend support for organizing cultural programmes in Lahore to bring the people of GB close to other cities of Pakistan. These programmes will be comprised of business stalls by small enterprises, cultural musical shows, Gilgit food and other cultural specialties of the area.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that tourism sector should be promoted as revenue booster and employment generator as this industry has huge but untapped economic potential in northern areas. The tourism industry is rapidly growing and has become one of the fastest developing economic sectors in the world. It is contributing heavily to the economic stability of various countries, he said, adding the business turnover of the tourism industry equals or even surpasses that of oil exports.
The total contribution of travel and tourism industry in the global economy is more than US $7.6 trillion but this sector in Pakistan is not playing as important role in economic uplift as it can do, he added. He said Pakistan offers a wide spectrum of tourism sector ranging from religious to historical places and ancient civilizations to modern architecture.
"We need to encourage private sector to invest in tourism sector of Pakistan. There is a great scope in hotels, restaurants, recreation parks and food streets etc which guarantees ample returns on investment," he said. He said the Lahore Chamber would extend all possible cooperation to the GB government for organization of events regarding culture of Gilgit-Baltistan.